The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-10-22
The APOSTLES.

The APOSTLES.
From among his disciples JESUS selected
twelve men whom he specially qualified to
be preachers of the Gospel, and to advance
the kingdom of truth and righteousness in
the world. The number twelve was probably
chosen with reference to the number of the
tribes of Israel. He carefully instructed
them in the principles of the heavenly reign
or kingdom, and endowed them with power,
or authority, in manner we may not under
stand, to do the marvellous works which he
had done, to accredit their mission as apos-
ties of Divine truth. They had been the COM
panions of his itinerant ministry, had listened
to his wonderful words, and witnessed his
marvellous and merciful works. They had
enjoye ed his friendship, and had in measure
imbibed his Spirit, and now they were to
share in his labors, as public teacher and
healer. II is important to remember what
has been stated in previous Study, that an
GENTLY, when some of the worst diseases
were directly attributed to Divine influences
that the religious teacher was also physi-
clan. JESUS was the Great Teacher and
L
fed His disciples whom he sent forth (''apos-
tle'' means the sent) to be successful in their
ministry.
The names of the twelve apostles who had
previously been chosen-it may be at differ
emit times-are given. There are four lists
of the apostles in the New Testament records.
One by Matthew, one by Mark iii. 16) and
two by Luke wi. IA; Acts i. 13). These all
differ slightly in the arrangement of the
names, and in the case of two there is va
ration in the names, one of which is only
difference in language used. The Aramaic
Coneean equals the Greek Zelotes, the name
of Jewish party or sect to which Simon be-
longed. Thaddeus must have been the same
as Judas (Luke), and was certainly the
brother of James, if he was the author of
the Epistle dude i. y. The slight difference
in the arrangement of the names may be the
result of different method, or purely Incl
dental. The two arrangements of Luke are
as different as any other two. The name of
Peter stands first in all the lists. He was
evidently the most prominent of the twelve,
if not their acknowledged leader. There are
three pairs of brothers in the list, Peter and
Andrew, James and John, and James and
Thadd@us. or Judas. The last four were
relatives of JESUS. Mark relates that JESUS
sent them forth in pairs. Matthew appears
to have arranged his list in pairs, according
to relationship. Philip and Bartholomew
Nathaniel, probably, were intimate friends.
(See John j. 45; xxi. 81 Matthew is the re-
90
fused to believe the report of JESUS resur-
rection. Peter was a faithful missionary,
contributing two epistles to our Scriptures.
John was the "beloved disciple:' five books
of the New Testament bear his name-Gos-
pei, three Epistles and Revelation. James,
the brother of John, was the first apostolic
martyr. James and John the brothers, or
cousins of our Lord, have each epistles
ascribed to them in the canon of the New
Testament. Nathaniel was an Israelite in
whom was no guile" The name of Judas
Iscariot is infamous. The rest are undistin-
guished in reliable Christian history. These
we're the first missionaries of the Gospel,
who planted and trained the primitive Chris
tan Church. They were trained for their
ministry by the Master himself, and qualified
by the Holy Spirit.
The Church has the record of the life and
ministry of JESUS and of the labors of his
chief apostles, and the inspiration of the
same Holy Spirit that qualified them, the
history of Christianity these eighteen centu-
ries since they lived and labored, and its
schools of Theology to qualify and train its
,iT,fo or for of zin tha
world. Our church maintains schools for
the proper training of Universalist ministers
in connection with Tufts College. College
Hill, Mass. st. Lawrence University, Can
ton, N. Y; and Lombard University, Gales
burg. Ill. These schools can all well accom-
modate many more candidates for our min
istry than they now have enrolled. Are there
not persons connected with many of our
Sunday-schools possessing qualities of mind
and heart filling them for usefulness in the
Christian ministry that might be induced to
enter these schools for the needed education
and proper training9 The advantages of
these schools are freely offered to accepted
candidates for the ministry, and the Uni
versalist General Convention aids by system
of loans those whose applications for assist
ance are approved. Our pastors and teach
ers, in co operation with parents and other
friends, should diligently search out the pos
sible and promising candidates for the min
istry of our Church and induce them to make
the necessary preparation and to consecrate
themselves to the noblest calling among men,
which promises the highest rewards for faith
full and effective service. The disciples did
not call the Master to qualify them for the
work of their Apostleship, but he called them
that he might prepare them by his instruc-
ton and intercourse with them to be messen-
gers of his truth and heralds of his Kingdom.
So the Church must wisely seek and call
those whom it would qualify for and ordain
in its ministry.
The APOSTOLIC COMMISSION.
Uho v,,snsat-r, ~ kha AnoakIaa ,uoa 6,ak In,